Steel chair cushion



Aug. 17, 1943; J. L. FREI I 2,326,937

, STEEL CHAIR CUSHION Filed Oct. 26, 1940 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEEL CHAIR CUSHION Josef L. Frei, Chicago, Ill. Application October 26, 1940, Serial No. 363,055

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-182) Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of my improved slip covers for the back of the chair.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, my invention is applied to a metal (preferably steel) chair having the curved legs comprising the'bent base portion I having the curved rear end 2, upright legs 3 bent rearwardly at their upper ends to form the arms I, which at their rear ends are secured by bolts, rivets or other. suitable fastening means 5 to the back 6. Fixed to the upright leg portions 3 by bolts, screws or other suitable the front downwardly curved portion of the metal I seat and is provided with a webbing which passes underneath the seat, and at the same time bends the forwardmost end of the apron underneath the front edge of the seat to hide the same from view. The webbing is sewed into the apron up to the cushion proper and is adjustably secured to another webbing or similar part fastened to the rear underneath portion of the seat. The cushion is also provided with means for detachably securing it to the rear of the seat.

Among the objects of my invention are to accomplish the above mentioned advantages, and in effect to give to a metal chair or the like the appearance of being upholstered.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities inherent in the invention will later more fully apear.

My invention further resides in the'combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing,and while I have showntherein preferred embodiments, I wish it understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a metal chair having fitted thereto a cushion and back slip cover embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a. bottom plan view looking up at thebottom of the seat of a metal chair with my improved cushion applied to the seat.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail of a front corner of the seat and adjacent vertical "leg showing,the

manner of fastening that portion of the thereto.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of my improved cushions with the apron laid out flat and 'show- I ing only a fragment of the webbing thereof. i.

on the line 6-5 of Fig. 5.

fastening means 1 is the pressed steel seat 8, which at its rear edge is fixed by bolts, screws or the like 9 to the back 6.

As will be understood, such metal chairs even though having a certain amount of springiness due to the shape and construction of the steel legs, will be hard as well as cold and in spite of said resiliency more or less uncomfortable. In accordance with my present invention I have provided a cushion and back slip cover which give to the otherwise cold and uncomfortable chair a dressed up, warm appearance as well as rendering the chair comfortable and of pleasing appearance. In other words, a metal chair having applied thereto my invention will have the appearance of being to a certain extent upholstered and of a cheerful and comfortable appearance.

The cushion comprises the top and bottom covers l0 and II respectively, which may be of any strong material suitable for this purpose. Between these top and bottom covers is a filling l2 to give to the cushion desirable softness. In

,choosing the material of covers I II and I I it is preferable that they be of pleasing appearance as well as possessing a comfortable feel.

In the cushion which I have indicated generally at C the top and bottom covers are sewed together with strong threads or other suitable fastening means around the edges I3. At the front edge of the filling l2 the top and bottom covers l0 and H are sewed together across the front at M in any manner desired, preferably by suitable stitching, so that thetop and bottom covers H1 and II will extend outwardly in a forward direction and are in turn sewed together at their front edge as shown at [5 by stitching or other suitable fastening means, to form -the apron A which at its front edge is indined-forward from the respective edges to the 1 middle of the front to produce a. forwardly extending -angular front edge. forwardly extending, angular central front lip 'Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken IE to be turned under the bottom edge as shown This provides a at IT ofv the downwardly extending flange l8 of the front edge of the seat so as to position this middle portion of .the front edge underneath the seat to be out of sight and thus create a more pleasing as well as effective appearance.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a webbing I9 is sewed between the top and bottom layers of the apron A to extend from the front edge of the filling l2 to a distance substantially beyond the front edge of the apron A by stitches or the like 20. This extended portion of the webbing [9,

when the cushion is secured in position on the over the front edge I8 of the same.

The cushion C is provided at each of its two rear corners with eyelets 26 and at each end of the apron A with a pair of spaced eyelets 21 and 28. The rear edge of the cushipn is secured in place by two double strings as shown at 29 in Fig. 3, in such manner that each of the strings will in passing through the rear eyelets 26 be positioned between the bottom side of the eyelet and the metal of the seat so as to prevent scratching or marring of the polish of the seat by eyelets, these strings not extending over the top of the cushion but merely through the eyelets and then over the adjacent edge of the cushion and tied together underneath the chair seat. Or a single string may be passed laterally across the rear underside of either the cushion or the seat, through the eyelets and then be tied together underneath the seat.

In order to prevent the eyelets 21 and 28 at the two ends of the apron A from scratching or otherwise marring the polish of the metal of the front edge l8 of the seat, I preferably pass a string, cord, tape or the like upwardly through each of eyelets 21 and 28 so that the strand 3| thereof will be beneath the apron and beneath the adjacent portion of each of these eyelets so as to prevent the eyelets from bearing directly against the polished metal and also to prevent the strand 3| from being seen. After passing through the eyelets 21 and 28 the strin 30 is extended outwardly and downwardly around the contacting point between the unright leg 3 and adjacent portion of the s de flange 32 of the seat. As the screw 1 pa s through the upri ht leg 3 and the flange 32. this furnishes a place at which the ends of the string 3|] can be tied underneath without bein z vis ble to the user of the chair. The other end of the a ron A is likewise secured to the chair.

It is thus seen that I have provided a cushion one in which the apron A covers the major part of the front curved portion l8 of the seat, and lip I6 is folded backwardly under the front edge of said front portion so that this front edge and the webbing I!) will not be visible to the user of the chair, and at the same time the cushion and apron will be drawn snugly and smoothly into secure position on the chair seat.

The slip cover for the back of the chair is designated generally at S and comprises the front and rear covers Hand 36 secured together in spaced apart relation by edge strip 31 of a folds or the like.

the top of the rear end of the seat as will be understood in Fig, l, and is so that when the slip cover is positioned over the back it will when it comes-to rest on the back be properly positioned with relation to the arms 4.

The bottom end of the slip cover is open as seen at 40, and the lower edge of each of the front and rear covers 35 and 36 on both sides are provided with a flap 4| and 42 respectively, the top end of which flaps are positioned downwardly away from the edge 39 a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the chair arms 4 to permit these flaps to be fastened together under said arms by snaps 43 Or the like, of which any suitable number may be used as seen in Fig. 7. It will be understood that the opposite edge of the slip cover will be of similar construction, but it is not shown in Fig. 7 because of this view being in perspective.

In use the slip cover will be slipped over the back of the chair with the flaps 4!, 42 open, and after the slip coverhas moved to its final position these flaps will be swung together in overlapping relation underneath the chair arms 4 and secured together by snaps 43 on each of the bottom edges of the chair back. This arrangement of cushion and back slip cover are easily applied and easily removed and, as stated earlier herein, when applied to the chair give it a warm, dressed up. pleasing appearance which to a certain extent will resemble upholstery and at the same time provide greater comfort to the user of the chair and prevent marring or scarring of the polished metal of the chair and position un-- slghtly parts and strings where they will not be seen. It is also to be noted that both the cushion and the back slip cover are reversible, thus greatly adding to their adaptability, longevity and ease of application.

My invention converts an outdoor steel chair to a warm looking comfortable indoor piece of furniture.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A cushion for use on metal chairs having a seat with a forwardly and downwardly curved front flange, upright legs and a back, comprising a seat portion having top and bottom covers stitched together around their edges with a filling therebetween, said filling terminating short of the front edge of the covers whereby said covers form a forwardly extending apron formed at its frontal middle portion with a lip, stitching extending through said covers along the front edge of the filling, a webbing secured to and extending rearwardly from said lip, means for tautly securing the webbing underneath the seat with the front edge of the lip being folded underneath the front flange of the seat so that said front edge of the lip and the webbing will be out of the front edge of the covers whereby said covers form a forwardly extending apron'formed at its frontal middle portion with a lip, stitching extending through said covers along the front edge of the filling, a webbing secured to and extending rearwardly from said lip, means for tautly securing the webbing underneath the seat with the front edge of the lip being folded underneath the front flange of the seat so that said front edge of the lip and the webbing will be out of sight when the chair is in normal position, means detachably securing the rear edge of the cushion to the chair, the webbing being sewed between the top and bottom portions of the apron, and means for detachably securing the end edges of the apron to the chair,

3. A cushion for use on metal chairs having a seat with a forwardly and downwardly curved front flange, upright legs and a back, comprising a seat portion having top and bottom covers stitched together around their edges with a filling therebetween, said filling terminating short of the front edge of the covers whereby said covers form a forwardly extending apron formed at its fron t al rniddle pprtion with a. lip, stitching exthroiigh said covers along the front edge of the filling, a webbing secured to and extending rearwardly from said lip, means for tautly securingthe webbing underneath the seat with the front edge of the lip being folded underneath the front flange of the seat so that said front edge of the lip and the webbing will be out of sight when the chair is in normal position, means detachably securing the rear edge of the cushion to the chair, a pair of spaced eyelets on each of the end edges of the apron, and a string extending along the underside of the apron edge and up through the eyelets and the ends of the string secured together between the upright leg of the chair and the seat and underneath the connections between the seat and leg..

4. A cushion for use on metal chairs having a seat with a forwardly and downwardly curved front flange, upright legs and a back, comprising a seat portion having top and bottom covers 5. A cushion for use on a metal chair having a metal seat formed witha depending front flange, comprising a seat portion having top and bottom covers stitched together around their edges with a filling therebetween, a forwardly extending apron secured to the front edge of the cushion and formed at its frontal middle portion with a lip and having end edges, means to secure the rear end of the cushion to the seat, means to secure the apron to the seat to extend downwardly across the flange with the lip folded rearwardly underneath the lower edge of the flange, and means detachably securing the end edges of the apron to the chair.

6. A cushion for use on metal chairs having a seat with a forwardly and downwardly extending front portion, upright legs and a back, comprising a seat portion having top and bottom covers stitched together around their edges with a filling therebe'tween, said filling terminating short of the front edge of the covers whereby said covers have a forwardly extending apron formed at its stitched together around their edges with a filling tending through said covers along the front edge of the filling, a webbing secured to and extending rearwardly from-said lip, means for tautly securing the webbing underneath the seat with the front edge of the lip being folded underneath the front flange oi the seat so that said front edge of the lip and the webbing will be out of sight when the chair is in normal position, a pair of spaced eyelets on each of the end edges of the apron, and a string extending along the underside of the apron edge and up through the eyelets and the ends of the string secured together between the upright leg of the chair and the seat and underneath the connection between the seat and leg, an eyelet in each of the rear corners of the cushion, and string means extending through the last mentioned eyelets and secured together at its ends below the seat.

frontal middle portion with a lip, stitching extending through said covers along the front edge of the filling, means detachably securing the rear edge of the cushion to the chair, anchor means at the rear portion of the chair below the upper portion of the seat, webbing, means secured to and extending rearwardly from said lip below the seat, a second webbing means secured at its rear end to said anchor means, and adjusting means connecting said first and second mentioned webbing means together for tautly securing them underneath the seat with the front edge of the lip being folded underneath the front extending portion of the seat so that said front edge of the lip and the first mentioned webbing means will be out of sight when the chair is in normal position.

7. In combination a metal chair having a seat with a polished forwardly and downwardly extending front portion, upright legs and a back, a seat cushion comprising a seat portion having top and bottom covers stitched together around their edges with a filling therebetween, said filling terminating short of the front edge of the covers whereby'sald covers form a forwardly extending apron, stitching extending through said covers along the front edge of the filling, means for detachably securing the rear edge of the cushion to the chair, means for tautly drawing the apron over the front extension of the seat.

, the upright legs being connected to the seat near the front corners of the seat, the end edges of the apron each having a pair of spaced metal eyelets, and a string passing through each pair of said eyelets upwardly from the bottom side of the apron so'that the string will be interposed l between the front extension of the seat and a legs and the seat.

JOSEF L. FREI. 

